ADIGRAT UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING (MOTOR VEHICLE ENGINEERING)
DESIGN AND MODIFICATION OF SOLAR POWERED PUMPING FOR
SMALL SCALE IRRIGATION
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment in BSc. degree in mechanical engineering
(motor vehicle engineering)
PREPARED BY: -
1. MIKIAELE HAGOS
2. NEGASI GIDEY
3. YONAS TEAME

ADVISER: TEKESTE ABADI. (MSc)

 Introduction
Background of the study
•Poverty reduction has been largely a result of economic growth.
•The economic growth and extent of poverty in Ethiopia are
determined primarily by the growth of agriculture because
agriculture is the largest component and back bone of the
economy.
• One of the major factors behind the weak performance of
Ethiopian agriculture is lack of adequate rainfall, combined with
variability in the onset and duration of rainfall [2].
•Irrigation development is one approach to address this problem,
and it has been given significant attention in economic
development programs in the country.
 Cont.….
 Water pumping worldwide is generally dependent on
conventional electricity or diesel generated electricity.
 Solar water pumping minimizes the dependence on
diesel, gas or coal based electricity.
 The use of diesel based water pumping systems require
not only expensive fuels, but also create noise and air
pollution.
 The overall upfront cost, operation and maintenance cost,
and replacement of a diesel pump are higher than a solar
photovoltaic (PV) pump.
 Solar pumping systems are environment friendly and
require low maintenance with no fuel cost.
 Cont.….
 The technology is similar to any other conventional water
pumping system except that the power source is solar
energy.
 PV water pumping is gaining importance in recent years
due to non-availability of electricity and increase in diesel
prices.
 The flow rate of pumped water is dependent on incident
solar radiation and size of PV array.
 tanks can be used for water storage in place of requirement of batteries for electricity
storage.
 The primary purpose of this paper is to provide
alternatives in all present and (near) future options for
lifting water on small scale irrigation of half hectare.
 Statement of the problem
 Solar water pumping minimizes the dependence on diesel, gas
or hydro power based electricity.
 The uses of diesel based water pumping systems require not
only expensive fuels, but also create noise and air pollution. In
addition to this they have high overall, operation and
maintenance cost.
 Keeping in view the shortage of grid electricity in rural and
remote areas in most parts of Ethiopia.
 Solar pumping systems are environment friendly and require
low maintenance with no fuel cost.
 Solar pumping is one of the most promising applications of
solar energy.
 To come up this problem we will design solar powered
pumping machine.
 Objective of the project
General objective
•The general objective of this project is to design solar powered
pumping system for small scale irrigation
Specific objective
•To design water storage
•To design battery
•To put a design analysis on the hydraulic energy needed and select a
pump and solar panel that deliver an appropriate power to the pump
•To model solar powered pump and put the layout of system using
software
•To calculate the overall cost of the solar powered pumping system
and know the payback period over the diesel fuel
•To provide a general future recommendation for the pumps
implementation and deployment
 Cont.…
1.5 Scope of the project
•The scope of this thesis is from data collection and
literature review until to design analysis.
1.6 Significance of the project
•To Establish a competitive and diversified agriculture
which is Independence against the increasing price of oil
and gas
•To choose the most cost effective and reliable water
pumping system over its life time
•To promote environmentally friendly water pumping
systems.
•To encourage people and to start using renewable energy
which costs less and don’t pollute
 LITERATURE REVIEW
In Ethiopia, motor water pumps are used commonly [6]. But they have
higher operational costs including for fuel, oil, labor and maintenance.
Solar water lifting pumps are a promising alternative that could lower costs
for farmers because they have relatively lower operational costs in addition
to contributing fewer carbon emissions and pollution, which makes
smallholder farming more resilient to shifting rainfall patterns caused by
climate change.
Main components of solar powered pump
There are seven most important parts in a solar powered pump for
irrigation system. And these are
Water storage tank
Pump

pipe

Solar panel
Battery

Charger controller
Solar panel frame
 Basic Principles of Photovoltaic Effect
 Solar Cells are devices, which convert solar energy
directly into electricity.
 The most common form of solar cells is based on the
photovoltaic (PV) effect in which light falling on a
two layer semi-conductor device produces a photo
voltage or potential difference between the layers.
 This voltage is capable of driving a current through an
external circuit and thereby producing useful work.
 To have a deeper understanding of PV effect, it is
essential to become familiar with the principles of
construction and operation of a two-layer
semiconductor device popularly known as PN
junction
 Cont.…
 semiconductors are basic building blocks of all the electronic
components and the solar cells.
 At the atomic level, light acts as a flux of discrete particles called
photons. Photons carry momentum and energy but are electrically
neutral. When semiconductor material is illuminated by light,
photons of light actually penetrate into the material, traversing deep
into the solid.
 Photons With enough energy can collide with bonded electrons and
knock them out of their original position. During the collision the
photon disappears and its energy is transferred to the dislodged
electron. The newly dislodged electron now becomes free and can
wander around the semiconductor material as conduction electron.
This free electron carries a negative charge and usable energy. It is
at this moment of releasing the electron that sunlight energy has
been converted into electrical energy. And this effect of converting
light energy into electrical energy is called photovoltaic effect.
 METHODOLOGY AND MATERIALS
SELECTION
To do this project the following methodology is followed
according to the objectives stated.
Methods
The overall research methodology is categorized into
literature review, data collection, and research on existing
design of different examples on solar pump in other parts of
the world.
A design of solar powered water pumping system is a task
that involves gathering of relevant information from a
variety of sources.
The following are the methodologies used to succeed or
done this project.
 Cont.…
 The first step includes collected data on existing pumping
of water in Tigray, Ethiopia area and the average
discharge value of diesel pump with its challenges on the
farmer and also about solar energy system.
In Tigray generally water is lifted either manually or diesel
operated pump in some parts of the cities of Tigray also
electrical pump is used but it is not common.
And not all farmers are used those technologies because of
different reasons.
The manual is common in most parts of Tigray but it is not
productive due to difficulties on operation they need high
energy from the farmers and do not cover large irrigation
area on their delivery.
 Cont.….
To solve this diesel pump also introduced which they can
discharge high amount of water without losing human
energy on their operation, But need a fuel during their
operation.
For this fuel the farmers repay their income to buy the fuel
most their income is used to buy the fuel.
Due to this and some other reason the farmers could not
proceed their irrigation.
.
 Cont..
 In addition, literature review was carried out in order to
select the best configuration, and to understand the basis
of the use of solar energy for water pumping.
 This included reviewing relevant literature in the field,
surfing the internet as well as by establishing contact with
organizations which were conducting different research
on solar energy utilization.
 The second step included discussion and output analyses
based on the Engineering calculation made on the design
analysis and selection of the appropriate pump and solar
panel.
 Cont.

The third step is modelling the configuration and

layout of the system using computer software
called Google sketch up software this used to put
the layout of the system and CATTIA software
was used to model the water storage tank put the
detail dimension of the tank.
 Cont..
 Design of water storage using CATTIA software
 Design of battery using CATTIA software
 Water required per day =7143 L
 Intake (or suction) point = 0.5 m in depth
 Water tank place = at the elevation of 3.5 m from ground
surface
 Water discharge point = 3.5 m above the tank bottom
 Depth of water source=1.5 m
 Distance between pump and water tank = 25 m
 𝐹𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 (𝑄) = 1 𝐿/𝑠𝑒𝑐
 Power input= 248.9 watt
Cont..
 Materials Selection
Storage tank construction
materials
Storage tanks are available in a wide
range of materials. More durable
tanks that are initially more expensive
may be cheaper in the long term when
maintenance and replacement costs
are allowed for.
 Materials Selection
Storage tank type Advantage Limitations

Polyethylene Often cost effective for smaller tanks Will eventually be damaged by sunlight

No corrosion issue May be less resistance to earthquakes

Timber staves with Initial cost may be low Treated timber potential to contaminated water if roof does
not have a plastic liner
plastic liner
Liner easily damaged

Coated steel or steel with plastic Initial capital may be low Corrosion protection required
liner
Coating must be suitable for potable use

Liner easily damaged

Concrete Likely to be cost effective for larger tanks Specialist design for large tanks and foundation

Long service life if correctively designed and Relatively complex construction

constructed Very resistance to damage
 Materials Selection
Pipe construction materials
A pipe is selected with the diameter
from pipe manufacturer table of friction
head loss for schedule 40 PVC plastic
pipe, PVC - Polyvinyl Chloride
strong and rigid
resistant to a variety of acids and bases
 Design and calculations of the project system
Design specifications
The size of the land to irrigate s 50×50 m
Onion is selected to be irrigated because it requires more
water than the other crops.
The water required for one square meter of onion is
20L/week
Suction head is a maximum of 6 m
Site area is in Adigrat.
The water source is water from well, ponds and flooding
water
 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Conclusion
The economic growth and extent of poverty in Ethiopia
are determined primarily by the growth of agriculture
because agriculture is the largest component and back bone
of the economy.
Irrigation development is one approach to address this,
and it has been given significant attention in economic
development programs in the country.
The primary purpose of this project is to provide
alternatives in all present and future options for lifting water
on small scale irrigation.
 So this project has the benefits in increased food
production and improved economic well-being.
 Cont.….
 The solar panel is faces the north at 23° from the ground
and south north direction because Tigray is located north
of the equatorial line in order for the sun ray to hit the solar
panel at its lowest and highest positions.
 Solar water lifting pumps are a promising alternative that
could lower costs for farmers because they have relatively
lower operational costs in addition to contributing fewer
carbon emissions and pollution, which makes smallholder
farming more resilient to shifting rainfall patterns caused
by climate change.
 Power needed is 555.41watts, Water required per day
=7143 L, Total cost = 57,650 BIRR
 And 𝐹𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 (𝑄) = 1 𝐿/𝑠𝑒𝑐
 Recommendation
 This project is done according to different books and
researches that are a work of different personals so it is
recommended to read more before getting to practical use.

 The results should also be recalculated if the design is to be

used for different design specifications for instance if more
or less farm area is to be cultivated the flow rate of the
pump and the water storage have to be increased and
keeping in mind the solar panels too in order for the pump
to run.
 The number of peak sun hours per day is six and the
working hours is two but it is recommended that more time
could take for the water storage tank to be full so 15 – 30
 Cont.….
 And also the time of the day that should be used is starting
from 3 – 9 o’clock so that the solar panel could get sufficient
amount of sun ray. When the solar panel is placed it is
recommended that the panel faces the north at 23° from the
ground and south north direction because Tigray is located
north of the equatorial line in order for the sun ray to hit the
solar panel at its lowest and highest positions.
 The university and the government should provide us an
opportunity to implement the project and to discuss with
farmers about detail advantage of solar on their economy level.
This is because the high initial cost the farmers could not buy
this best alternative.
 Finally we recommended that the next generation should be
manufactured the project with high quality and performance.
Working principle
THANK
YOU!!!